Category: vintage

The Speedmaster Chronicles #4 – Aurel Bacs, Auctioneer at Phillips Watches

The former-NASA engineer who certified the Speedmaster, the journalist turned watch-designer who initiated “Speedy Tuesday”, a seasoned Speedy collector… What could have been the next step when it comes to the Omega Speedmaster? At a certain point, when you look at such an iconic watch, you have to talk auctions and markets. So no shortcuts, we asked renowned auctioneer Aurel Bacs from Phillips Watches to join us and talk about the Speedmaster. And the best surprise was that not only he talked about his professional view on this piece of history, but this movie ended up to be much more personal than expected. Please meet Aurel and his personal Omega Speedmaster.

7 years ago

The Speedmaster Chronicles #3 – @VintageWatchzilla, Watch Collector

Our series of videos “The Speedmaster Chronicles” started with two insiders. One is the former-NASA engineer who tested and certified the Moonwatch before going to the Moon. The other is no less than Mister Speedy Tuesday, our dear friend Robert-Jan Broer. Today, for Episode 3, we move on the other side of the watchmaking planet, with a collector. We won’t show his face nor mention his full name. Some of you may know him from his Instagram pseudonym: @VintageWatchzilla. What we’ll show you though is one of the greatest collections of Omega Speedmaster we’ve seen recently. VintageWatchzilla has some pretty nice watches and the knowledge that goes along.

7 years ago

NEWS – Phillips Sells the Omega Tourbillon 30 I, One Of The First Tourbillon Wristwatches Ever, For a Monumental CHF 1,428,500 (Most Expensive Omega Ever Auctioned)

Today is the second day of the Geneva Watch Auction Six (GWA6) by Phillips. While there were some impressive lots (is that even a surprise from Aurel Bacs and Phillips…), with a Patek 2523 or an incredible Patek 2497 in white gold, the star of the show for us here, at MONOCHROME, certainly was the Omega Tourbillon 30L – a 1947 watch and one of the very first tourbillon wristwatches ever made, and the first to have been completed in Switzerland. This watch just sold for an impressive CHF 1,428,500, making it the most expensive Omega ever auctioned.

7 years ago

Breaking News – Phillips Sells Paul Newman’s Paul Newman Daytona for $17,752,500, Being The Most Expensive Wristwatch Ever Auctioned

This is it… This is the big one. The watch that the entire collecting community was expecting to see surfacing one day went under the hammer. This watch, as auctioneer Aurel Bacs explained to us in this video interview, is not only a celebrity’s watch; it represents much more than that. It’s the very watch that created an icon (the Paul Newman Daytona), the very watch that is, in fact, the reason why collecting steel sports watches is now so high. Well, it’s official, Paul Newman’s Paul Newman Daytona has been sold a few minutes ago, for a record price of over 17.7 Million, making it the most expensive wristwatch ever auctioned (and that’s with buyer’s premium).

7 years ago

VIDEO – Aurel Bacs Talks Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona & Highlights From Phillips New York Auction

While Aurel Bacs’ reputation as an auctioneer was not to be done anymore, he recently managed to impress the watch-collecting community again, by being entrusted with the sale of no less than Paul Newman’s Paul Newman Rolex Daytona. So to say, a Holy-Grail in watch collecting. However, that’s not all. Phillips, in Association with Bacs & Russo, managed to create around this watch an entire and fascinating catalogue, which inaugurates the New York auctions for the Maison. Today, we’re pleased to receive Aurel, to talk Paul Newman’s Paul Newman Rolex Daytona and other highlights from the “Winning Icons, Legendary Watches of the 20th Century” that will take place in New York, on 26 October 2017.

7 years ago

TAG Heuer Launches Heuer Globetrotter Exhibition: 10 Cities, 400 Watches (Including the Main Watches to be Displayed)

Ever since Jean-Claude Biver took over as the CEO at the end of 2014, it seems TAG Heuer has a new lease on life. From the vintage re-issue Heuer Autavia, to its sponsorship of the Red Bull Racing Formula One team, the avant-garde watch manufacturer continues to find new ways to stay in the spotlight. This trend looks set to continue with the unveiling of the brand’s latest initiative, the Heuer Globetrotter, which officially kicks off on the 16th of September, possibly in a city near you.

7 years ago

Celebrating 100 Years Of The Iconic Cartier Tank – Part 2, The Important Early Models

Last week, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Cartier Tank, we brought you part.1 of our in-depth look at this modern-day icon. Our focus was on the Tank Normale, the very first Tank ever created, which made its debut in 1917 (or 1919, depending on who you ask). This early model would lay the foundation for what has gone on to become one of the most recognisable watch designs ever, leading to numerous variations and of course homages from other brands. It also serves as a testament to the idea that well-executed, simple designs can stand the test of time. A bit of luck and a few celebrity endorsements here and there certainly don’t hurt either! What has perhaps been most fascinating about the Tank over the years, however, is its incredible versatility. This was particularly evident in the early Tank models, i.e. those made in the 1920’s and 1930’s, which we will be looking at today. Each is very different in its own way, and yet each is unmistakably a Cartier Tank.

7 years ago

Historical Perspective – The Classic Vintage Submariner, The Reference 5512 and 5513

At a certain time in the history of the no-date Rolex Submariner, collectors will commonly accept the switch from vintage to modern references. This moment appeared at the end of the 1980s when Rolex launched the Submariner reference 14060. However, prior to this watch, two references were manufactured, both extremely close in design and specifications, the Reference 5512 and 5513. And because it is the Submariner with longest production period, it has to be seen as the absolute Classic Vintage Submariner, as our “columnist extraordinaire” Paul Altieri (Founder and CEO of Bob’s Watches) will explain here.

7 years ago

Historical Perspective – The Original “Bond” Rolex Submariner, The Reference 6538 “Big Crown”

After having a look at the “Pre-Submariner”, the Rolex Reference 6202, as well as at the mother of all Submariners, the early Reference 6204, it is time for our “columnist extraordinaire” Paul Altieri (Founder and CEO of Bob’s Watches) to look at a watch that helped building the legend surrounding this model, mainly because it was worn by a certain British spy, in a movie called Dr. No. You certainly guessed it: today we look at the “Bond” Rolex Submariner, The Reference 6538.

7 years ago

Historical Perspective – The Very First Rolex Submariner, The Reference 6204

Today, we continue our Historical Perspective series, thanks to our “columnist extraordinaire” Paul Altieri (Founder and CEO of Bob’s Watches). In the first part, we explored a missing link in the history of diving watches, as we looked at the pre-Submariner watches, known under the reference 6202 “Turn-O-Graph”. Today, however, is the real deal, with the more-than-iconic reference 6204, the mother of all Rolex Submariner watches, the very first one born in 1953.

7 years ago